Improvement of the Antioxidant Properties and Postharvest Life of Three Exotic Andean Fruits by UV-C Treatment

Journal
Journal of Food Quality
ISSN
1745-4557
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
María J. Andrade-Cuvi
María J. Zaro
Ariel R. Vicente
Analía Concellón
DOI
URL
Abstract
<jats:p>Three Andean fruits naranjilla (<jats:italic>Solanum quitoense</jats:italic>Lam.), uvilla (<jats:italic>Physalis peruviana</jats:italic>L.), and mortiño (<jats:italic>Vaccinium floribundum</jats:italic>Kunth) were subjected to prestorage UV-C treatments (0, 8, or 12.5 kJ m<jats:sup>−2</jats:sup>) and evaluated weekly to select the most suitable dose for fruit quality maintenance during storage (21 days at 6°C). The highest dose retains quality through lower deterioration index for all three fruits and was selected to further analyze the effects on physicochemical and antioxidant properties during storage. UV-C exposure delayed softening in naranjilla and increased soluble solid content in uvilla. UV-C also improved the maintenance of antioxidant capacity (AC) in mortiño and uvilla. Overall, results indicate that short prestorage UV-C exposure may be an effective nonchemical approach to supplement low temperature storage, maintain quality, and extend the postharvest life of Andean naranjilla, uvilla, and mortiño fruit.</jats:p>